![]() Tonic water was invented by British naval officials in early 19th century India, who used quinine powder as an anti-malarial, but found the bitter taste difficult to swallow in purely powdered form. Several varieties of commercial tonic syrups are also produced, which allow a drinker to customize their preferred level of quinine flavor. Tonic waters may contain genuine sugars, while “diet” or zero calorie versions use the same sweeteners present in commercial soft drinks. This gives tonic water a balance between bitterness, somewhat resinous notes and corresponding sweetness, which pairs very well with liquor such as gin in the ubiquitous G&T. Quinine has a distinctly bitter, mineral flavor, which is balanced in almost all commercial tonic waters by added sugars or sweeteners. ![]() It is sparkling water that has been infused with both minerals and quinine, a powder isolated from the ground bark of the cinchona tree. ![]() ![]() Tonic is the most unique and distinctive of carbonated waters, and by far the easiest to identify from taste alone. Is “club soda” really a different product than seltzer? Or sparkling mineral water? And what exactly makes “tonic” so different? Here’s a simple guide to what each of the terms implies. Learning to stock the right varieties of carbonated water in your home bar is basically a “day one” lesson of any aspiring home bartender.īut they can also be a bit confusing. They tend to be light and unobtrusive, perfect as a background element to “lengthen” a drink and reduce its ABV, but can also be flavored to fit a particular cocktail profile. They’re essential in the world of mixology for infusing a sparkling, effervescent quality to drinks with names like “fizz” or “spritzer,” being used in a variety of situations when something like sparkling wine just wouldn’t taste right. Making your first forays into the world of mixed drinks, you’re bound to come across varieties of carbonated water sooner rather than later. Check out every entry in the series to date. Cocktail Queries is a Paste series that examines and answers basic, common questions that drinkers may have about mixed drinks, cocktails and spirits.
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